Evans ton on debut mows down London Fields
London Fields, 4/22/2006
Strongroom won by 136 runs
Strongroom: 232-7 (L.Evans 109*, J.Rebbeck 44)
London Fields: 96 all out
View the Scorecard
A gloriously sunny day made for the perfect season-starter in deepest Hackney, and Strongroom, featuring three debutants, were invited to bat first on a decent looking track. With D.Gower and R.Woolhouse in absentia, their reliable opening berth was up for grabs. Chris Englefield and Jolyon set out to claim just that, but Chris was soon back in the hutch, trapped in-front as he went back to a full pitcher. Jolyon showed good application and some wonderful timing in his 44 runs, and along with J.Gower this pair put on 50 for the second wicket in 11 overs. Robin Phillipps played with natural flair in his debut innings, and at 105-4 after 21 overs Strongroom were well set. Enter debutant Luke Evans. Luke struck his first 6 balls for 4-4-4-4-4-6, and his brilliant striking of the ball on the up rewarded him with 109*, including 12 fours and 6 sixes. This was a magnificent display of batting, and few of the hordes of sun-lovers were safe in the park as he peppered the outfield and beyond. To add to the misery, another Guy Wilson flourish really put London Fields on the back foot. Guy and Luke added a record 69 runs for the 6th wicket, and Strongroom eventually posted an intimidating 232-7 off 35 overs.
Tea Report: 10/10. David Proctor unleashed an inspired lunch, which will go down as one of the best ever. Cold pasties (halved and dipped in brown sauce), samosas, hard boiled eggs, strawberries, grapes and chocolate brownies were greedily guzzled down with champagne! Dave has really set a high standard for the season.
Skipper Simon Ray and Chris Willcock opened the attack for a noisy and self-confident Strongroom. Simon had two strong LBW shouts turned down, and Bully settled into a probing line and length. London Fields openers survived the opening burst, but it was the nagging J.Gower (4-0-12-2) line that eventually made the first breakthrough as he dismissed both openers. Bully was rewarded for his patience by deceiving no.3 with a yorker, and an inspired double-bowling change tore the heart our of the LF middle order, as Proctor (5-1-12-3) and Jolyon (4-0-17-2) did what they do best. Proctor was in his pomp, and served up a heady mixture of out-swingers, bouncers and changes of pace, whereas Jolyon found some rip from the drying surface. Luke showed some tidy glove-work behind the stumps, and snared a catch and a stumping for the scorebook. Simon mixed up the attack further, and Brett’s menacing length and Chris E’s wily dibbly-dobblers removed the final two batsmen to provide an enormous victory.
This was a very enjoyable start to the season. Strongroom are looking in ominous form.
Written By: J.Gower
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